Cleaning anode



`l recognized, and, when it haso'ccurred, ithas been "Patented Nov. 12,

This `invention .relates "to, apparatus for "hanf-Hv `dling materialsinthe formv of sheets,such, for y example,V as metal `electrodesemployed inyelec` trolytic processes.` A particular object of the in,- 5vention is to provideanfimprovedapparatusfor cleaning anodes to removeslime therefrom. t In the electrolytic treatment of metals inthe form`of soluble anodes for refining purposes, `it not infrequently happensthat, as -theeletrolysis proceeds, adherent slimev formsuponthesurfaces` f fof the anodes," This s lifrnel generally iselectrically,non-condutive,and.ii it buildsup toany conlsiderable extend, the powerVeillciencylof the elec- `trolysis drops appreciably. evil `liarsdgeeriv`customary periodically to remove theanodes from the electrolytiecelland `wash or` `scrub them to` remove the slime,` ,after which theFanodes" have `been `rer'nlacedinthe cell and the electrolysisfhasbeemcontinued A i The Washing operatiomgps heretofore conl ducted, hasbeen primarily, manual. l The brushes "usually employedy in thewashingoperation `have on occasion been power driven, but the 4'handling of theanodes themselves, afterreniovalfrom the y cell, has kbeen almostwhol1yb'y,hand. In `even `'small commercial electrolytic reningoperations, large numbers of anodesare undergoing treat;- ment;lsimultaneously, and if visllmeis `forming upon each anodeand must;`periodically be removed, the. labor costshavebeen very consider- "ilIffsQQflyiSlllftmn eme. Infact, subjecting theglnmies` toA a WalshT f,the iPvsmPwyfam ing operation more than .once in each twentyf l fourhours heretofore hasbeen regarded aslrnf` the 'Pair 0f SUDPO practicalforeconomic reasons.

'40 `volvefairlyrapidformation,of an adherent slim" H 111129 COiti? Withthe `WEiSh' uponrthe anodesjwhich would necessitatewashing i atfrequent` intervals,'rit `hasheen deemed, neces-y" i sar'y to :altertheconditions "prevailing`during` the" ,electrolysis to retardfslimeformation, i ,to i "change the, character-of `the yslimeso that/it4 nollongeradheres to" the anodeyofr tovseek other l means" ofaccomplislling` the -1 6nd"desired.` Recently, ay process `vivasdevelopedf at.` thel, East chiagogplant `o'ffthe Anacondread Productstaining considerableqiiantiti' I f In "the course onf", the operatie an"adherent, bismuth-containing s lime formed *oiitliesurfac's voftheariodes at such a rapidfrate tliatlt'o,se` cure ajreasonable poweretlicency, "it yvasneces may be lifted from the supporting means,advanced therealong, and lowered again thereto.

The elevator is operativelyv positioned with respect to the'beamsforming the supporting means for anodes to provide means for introducingthe anodes into operative relationship with the washing means. To thisend short midportion sections ofthe supporting beamsare separate fromthe main vportions of these beams and areassociated withvverticalemembers adapted to be lowered and raised by suitableelevator-operating means.

in normal operation, with anodes placed upon ivthe supporting means, theapparatus operates as follows: The walking beam yis set `in'motion toadvance anodes along the supporting means to its operation is suspendedwhile the walking'beaxn again passes through its cycle. This alternate'operation of walkingbeamsl i and f elevators oontinues until eachanode'placed upon the supporting means has had itsturn upon the elevatorand has been introduced into operative relationship with the washingmeans.

' The invention will be understood more clearly dit yis

Afrom the'following description, considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in Whicht l k l l isfanelevation of an anodewashing machine constructed in `accordance with the invention;

2 is, a view looking down upon the machine showninrie.1;` f f Fig. 3 isan enlarged'cross-sectin through the machine taken substantially alongthe line 3-3 Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the machine, showingtheielevator andV its relationship with respect tothe washing means,taken substantially along theline 4-4 ofFig.1;and

Fig. 5 is 'an elevation showing the mounting of the rotating brushes.

The anode washing machine shown in' Figs.

1 to 4 comprises substantially parallel anode sup4 porting beams I0 andII forming arack adapted to support a plurality of anodes bythesupporting ears or lugs thereof and supportedV themselves by'framemembers I2 and `I3 mounted upon'suitf able posts or pillars I4'.l Thespacing of the beams" I0 and Il issuch that an anode I5'(Fig. 3) mayeasily-be receivedbe'tween them and `be supported on them bythe ears orlugs I6 with which anodes are generally provided for hangingthem inelectroiytic eens, with the ears of the anode'prpjectf A ing outwardlybeyond the outer surfaces Aof the beams. Notches I'I are'providedA inthev upper surfaces of vthe beams I0 and II.l .The width of the notchesIl issuch that each lnotch will easily receive an earv of an anode. Thenotches serve to insure proper spacing of anodes supported 'by tliebeamsI0 and II. 'h d y Walking' beams 20 and 2| are eccentrically mountedadjacent the supporting'beams I0 and other.

I I so as to be movable in a substantially circular path of travel withrespect to the supporting beams. The mounting of the walking beams is asfollows: Bearings 22 are rigidly secured to the outer surfaces of theWalking beams and a cam 23 is housed within each bearing. The cams aresecured eccentrlcally to rotatable shafts 24 which are suitablyjournaled in bearings 25 supported by a frame member 26. The shafts 24and the bearings 25 in which they are journaled .thus support thewalking beams through the cams 23 and the bearings 22 secured to thewalking beams.

The shafts 24 advantageously form a part of reduction gears 21, eachcomprising a worm gear 28 mounted upon the shaft 24 and engaging with aworm 29. The worm 29 of each reduction gear is mounted on one of twoline shafts 30 and 3| flanking the walking beams 20 and 2Irespectively.` A drive shaft 32 is connected tc each of the line shafts-30 and `3| through reduction gears 33 and 34. A motor 35` providesmeans for driving thedrive shaft v32 through a belt 36` engaging apulley 31 mounted on the drive shaft.

' When the motor 35 is running, it drives each of the line shafts 30 and3| through the drive shaft 32, and through the line shafts and the worms29 mounted thereon a. turning moment is'applied to the shafts 24supportingthe Walking beams'. The cams 23 arethereby rotated in theirbearings 22, and owing to the eccentric mounting of the cams, thewalking beams 20 and 2Imove in such a manner that any point 4on thebeamsl travels in acircle of diameter equal to the throw of the cam,each rotation of the shaft 24 and the cam 23 secured thereto actuatingthe walking beams through a completeV cycle. The position of the walkingbeams with respect to the supporting. beams I0 andr II is such that whena line drawn through the center of any shaft 24 and the true center ofthe cam23 mounted thereon is horizontal, the top surface of the walkingbeam is even with the bottom surfaces ofthe notches I'I in thesupporting beams I0 and II.v Hence during half of each cycle of thewalking beams, the top surfaces thereof rise above the `^bottom`of thenotches I1 and the beams move forward (say from left toY right inFig. 1) and during the other'half of the cycle the top surfaces of thewalking beams fall below the bottom of the notches and the beams movebackward- (i. e. from'right to left in Fig. 1). lThe center to centerdistance between'successive notches Il is sub stantially equal to thethrowof the eccentrics actuating the walking beams; hence it will beseen that with each cycle, the walking beams come up under theprojecting ears I6 of Ianodes slung between the supporting beams I0 andII, lift the entire burden of anodes, carry it forward ajdistance of onenotch, lower it again to the supporting beams, and then retreat intoposition to repeat the cycle. VIf vno other yaction intervened, theanodes would simply be advanced, one notch with each cycle of thewalking beams, from one end of the supporting beams to the It will be`noted. however, that short sections 4I! Y, and 4I of the supportingbeams I0 and II `adjacent the mid-portions thereof are separate from themain portions of the supporting beams. Each of these short sections 40and 4I is of a width to include one of the notches I'I formed in thesupporting beams I0 and II, and, when in the position shown in Fig. 1(except for the fact that they are separated from the mainL portions ofsimply portions"` of thef' supporting `beams* over which andes maybeadvanced `by the" walking` beams zo `and 2|-,

movement, the guides `themselves beingheld im--lv vheseshort sections"andH-are mounted upon theupper end portions of verticalmembers 42 and43. Each of thevertical'members "rand` 43 tssnuglybetween a -par ofguides 44?- and* 45 which permit down and up.` movement ofthe verticalmembers but restrain them" from 4lateral movable by adjacent'framemembers. rackl 46 is mounted lupon` each of "ther verticalrnernbers 42and 43',"an`d`a pinion 41` engages Withweachl` rack.1he pinions 41aremounted'on the shaftsf n extending from worm reduction? ge'arsflIand;

and the reduction gears are connected" withV *al gears 48 and` 5D tothepinions 41"facts`lupon"the` racks 46 `to lotve'rthervertical"members42`and 43, and Where the motor is driven l'irr theo'ppo#site direction; lthe turninfg movementtrarisinittedr to theplp'inions4"4"! is ysiich thatthe vertical rnern` bers areraisedf `Theabovefdescribedassembly of" shortsections4l]` and 4 I ,"fverti'al`Ifnernbfers 42` and 43, racks ,46 and'oriving'mechanisrn "ther or 3 ,pl Washingbor scrubbingjmeans:comprisingafpair of rotary'brushes 53islpositonedfwith respect to the n elevator `s`o` that anl ,anode on1the@ elevator may be lowered betweenthe brushesj .Each of(- the brushesis mounted flor rotation onalbrush" shaft se [nis desirable that the`brushes te mov-` able toward and away from ,eachothertogaecom-y t,mpdate anodes ofvariousthicknesses;` nd to this end the `brushsllaft`s,`are'journalecllirrfbearingsj '55Qs1idabl`y ,mounted on a. frame"`member 56;

is referre'dto herein as anfelevator.A

I slide toward and away from Aeach othergthereby l tween them, `anduto`,this end pantographarms` permittingthe brushes 53 mounted on thbrush'l3 n shaits 54 journaled in the bearings to` s deto- 45` i `It `isdesirable thatthe` brushes 'est with es of anobject introduc wardor-away :from-each other. i

forceonropposite sid 51 are journaledl on the ends" ofthe brushfshaftstloally slotted member 56. 4I,Springs 51 are Y virtue of the engaginggears 62 andy6f2"",1

\ means of" the belts andfn pulleysj: mounted on one of "the brush drshaftlil is mountedrin suitableafbearings" 54, projecting. beyond theslidable4 bearingsY 5K5. p

The pantograph, arms` are" pivotallyfoonnected at their lower ends byalpvoft ping projecting throughlthem andintol engagernent"` 1t ve brushisforrced`r` toward o1-"away fiom fthfothergv theother ,brushy movescorrespondinglyftwardf" A y `a magneti ally "ope `lilachofv the-brushshafts54l1is provided pulley 60; for driving purposes. l A brush1carries a-gear 62 `engaging a correspon 62'gmounted `on a second` brushdrive Apulley 63 .is'mounted oneacht ofthe with the `pulleys 60` onthetbrushvshaftsu djby the brushes are driven in opposite directions"`:by

Alipulley ,65

n n t n n 2,220,982@ the supportingbeam'swl andyI-I) #they comprisevnanodevwithjthem. As the"anodetisloweredlty t passes between therevolving1brushes@53,Qtvhiclr1` anduthe brusheswduringtthelwashingoperation` washed from the anodes, and t is,

n shield the 1 -various frbeiarifngs l, andfge op sa (as: shown `byfthedotted missin p stopped and the elevator comes tofrest `the motor 52driven' downwardlycarrying suitablyf connected toa motorwnot shown for*driving ,thetbrushes -It willlzbe observe 'lthat" `with the`brushesmounted as describedfithey may be lmovedz'towardorfaway fromeach other,within` p reasonable lirnitstas` set byllsuitably placed fs'evenfwhile rotatingwithout -aiectingtheir When an anode 66 hasbeenadvanced along the" supporting beams 1 I0 and il |`l into tithe notchesprovided l in the shortlsections" l 40 andx141l t thereof;` themotor52's setinkoperation and the `vrtical members 42 and 43 `arerslowered,14carx'ying`,fthe4 are drawn against itfbythe xacupnvofqtn tspring-[11i`51a,` and the :slime is l thereby t scrubbed n romit. K .To facilitatethe washing operation; 14 Weterjlor4 4a; n

suitablei cleaningsolution is sprayed thezanode -l elevator istin"operation??` `IA-sump `may videdfbelow :the brushestto.,collectl machinefrom the*` slime and zwashi'rlg`n;v

t f PTOWQ? `underlying portionsof th xnac'hineLl "When" [substantially,the {gentire' lengthf" t anode 66 hasbeenfloweredrbetweefrthe` bru hesmotor sz is reversed andthee1evatorgw1t th; anoder supported upon"Original* position, where pon the" niet ears Y tween; thefsupporting"beamsql an anjfer of each, anode ei `entire"burden of anode's isftoone;n sid lo the cleaned anode from the elevator and advancing it onenotch to the right and advancing an anode tc cleaned into the notches onthel 'H mounted on an end member 12 of the machine frame to stop themachine.

f It will be apparent from the foregoing description.L that means mustbe provided to correlate the functioning of the walking beamsand-elevator if operation'of the machineis to be wholly automatic. Toythis end a drum controller 13 is geared Ato the walking. beam driveshaft 32 so that it passes through one complete cycle with eachv cycleofthe walking gbealns.V A seconddrum controller'xllis similarlyv geared tothe elevator driveashaftil to passthrough a complete cycle with eachcycle of the elevator. y The apparatus may be operated as follows: Thewalking beam motor 35 is energized, starting the .cycle of. thefwalkingbeams 20 and 2|.V The drum controller A'13, geared to the walking beamdrive shaft 32,`vis so arranged that with the completion of the walkingbeam cycle, power is cut oi from-the Amotor 35 and a magnetic brake isset to hold the walking beams from moving. As this cycleis completed,the drum controller 13 acts/to energize the elevator motor 52, whichstarts the elevator in operation. When the motor 252 is energized, thepinions 41 are operated through the drive` shaft 5I and reduction gears48 and 50, driving theracks 46 mounted on each of the vertical members42 and 43, the upper ends of which form the short sections 40 and 4I ofthe supporting beams IU andl Ii. tion ofnthe pinions 4ll on the racks4,6 causes the elevator to jdescend, and to. rise when the motor 52 isreversedby action' Vof the drumk controller 1.4, which takes placewhenthe elevator reaches substantially the bottom of its travel. It isadvantageous to include -a timing relay in the control circuit todetermine the length of time the ele.

vatorstays at-or near the bottom of its travel lbefore starting to move.up, as this allows for adjustment V'by thefoperator of the amount bywhich the elevator drifts, assuring complete Ascrubbing of the anodes,and it also prevents .brake releasedl as long as the motor 52 isenergized. I'he magnetically operatedY valve 68 preferablyA is connectedtothe `brake so that thevalve v|58 remains openswhile ythe brake is offbut closes whenthe brake sets. Thisprevents Waste of the fluid while thewalking beamv mechanism is motion. ,When the elevator stops .at theupper limit of its travel, thus completing its cycle, the drumcontroller 14 so acts as to energize the walking beam motor 35, thusstartingthe complete cycle over again.

.l A separate motor is used to drive the washing brushes 53. vThebrushes are rotated continuously throughout the performance and for thatreason no particular control apparatus is necesv sary for their separatemotor'.

It is understood that various modifications may be made in theconstruction of the machine The acv described above and in itsoperation. For example, by suitably altering the control circuit, theelevator can be made to pass through two or more complete cycles betweeneach cycle of the walking beams. This may be advantageous when aparticularly adherent slime is'to be removed from anodes. Furthermore,the elevator may be designed to carry two or more anodes at a time, andthe walking beam may in such case be so designedas to advance the anodestwo notches along the walking beam witheachcycle.

In the foregoing description, particular reference has been made toelectrical operation and control of the machine. In generalthis ispreferred, but if desired, mechanical operation and control may beemployed.' Thus, for example,

the elevator may be operated hydraulically instead of electrically.

The machine described above is particularly well suited to cleaninganodes, but it may be adapted to other uses aswell. For example, it maybe employed in paintingl or pickling metal sheets or plates byeliminating the brushes and krolls on the platens of a hydraulic pressand the machine may be used to straighten metal sheets or plates. Other.modifications of the machine to adapt it. to other uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

As pointed outv above, use of the machine described above for washinganodes, makes possible lifting a plurality of anodes simultaneously froman electrolytic cell, automatically passing them successively inoperative relation with washing means. and lreturning the anodes enmasse to the cell without substantially altering their spatialarrangement with respect to one another. It will be .apparent from theforegoing description how the, anodes may beautomatically passedsuccessively in operative relationship with washingmachines. v

Inlemploying the apparatus ofthe invention, a plurality of anodesypreferably are lifted simultaneously from an electrolytic cell Withoutdisturbing lto any substantial extent their spatial relationship withrespect to one another, and are then' automatically passed in operativerelationship with washing means, for example by Vdepositingthem upon thesupporting members of the ariodejwashingI machine described above (then'otches on the supporting members being such that thespatialrelationship of the anodeswith respect to oneanother which on'themachine is substantially the same as-'in the electrolytic cell);Thereafter the anodes are returned cleaned to the cell, still withoutsubstantially altering their spatial relationship, and are replaced enmasse in the cell. The slime washed from the anodes may, if it is fvalue, be collected and subjected to suitable treatment.

In accordance with the invention it is possible to wash anodes moreeconomically and much more hspeedily than has heretoforebeen possible.Electrolytic refining processes involving the rapid formation of anadherent lslime on the .anodes maybe dealt with 'expediently by meansofthe invention, -and at a cost that'may well fall below the'costsentailed heretofore, even whenwashing at relatively infrequentintervals, in washing operations involvingv a'substantial amount of handwhereby anodes thereon are moved downwardly has `been moved into contact,v vithrthel washing into contact with the washing meansbelow thesupporting beams, and to return the shortbeam sections to 1 theirpositions'of alignment with the anode supportingibeamsfthe elevatoroperating means andthe meansf'ffor moving'anodes only after an anodesupported on 'theelevator 4meansand the-short beam sections havebeenreturned to their positions "of alignment with 'the supporting beams. f

7. In apparatus yof the class describedrincluding a stationary supportcomprising two pairs of xed, substantially horizontally disposedsupporting beamsfmounted in end-to-end vertical and horizontal alignmentwith a space therebetween, the beams of each pair being provided vwithgrooves intheir uppensurfaces 'for the reception of ears projectingbeyond the side edges `oranodes and of such length4 andspaced apartsufliciently to permit a plurality of anodes to be supported thereon by`meansv of ears projecting from the side edges of the anodes with suchprojecting ears disposed in the grooves and with the bodies of theanodesextending downwardly be,- tween the beams,-and washing meansdisposed below the pairs of beams in vvertical alignment with the spacetherebetween, the combination of Y'an elevator disposed in the space'between' the ipairs of beams comprising a pair of short beam `sectionsprovided with grooves in their upper surfaces-and spaced apart anddisposed in vertical and' horizontal alignment withv the pairs of anodesupporting beams, means for advancing lanodesl from groove to groovealong one pair of supporting beams to the elevator to place the anodeears in the grooves inthe upper surfaces of the'short beam sections andfrom the elevator from groove to groove along the other pair ofsupporting beams, and means for operating the elevaor to'move; the shortbeam sections downwardlywhereby' anodes thereon aremoved downwardly intocontact with the washing means below the supporting beams, and to returnthe short beam sections to their positions of alignment withv the anodesupporting beams, the elevator operating means and themeans-for movinganodes along the supporting beams being arranged to'functionalternately, -whereby anodes are moved alongthe supporting beamsintermit- Ygtently and only after an anode supported on the elevator hasbeen moved 'intocontact with the -washing means and the short beamsections have been returnedto' their positions of alignment withthesupporting beam f e 8. In f an anode washing machine comprisingntwo'pairs of xed, substantially horizontally disposed supportingbeams`mounted in end-toend vertical alignment with a spacetherebetween,the beams of each pair being provided with sub-v stantially equallyspacedgrooves in their upper surfaces: for the reception of earsprojecting be- 1 yond the side edges of anodes andsuiciently spacedapartVY andof such length as to permit a pluralityof Vanodes to besupported thereon with their projecting ears disposedin the grooves andwith theiry bodies extending `downwardly between the. beams, washingmeans `iricludin`g'- a pair of rotatably mounted vbrushesy disposedbelow the pairsof beams in vertical alignment'with the spacetherebetween, and meansior rot'atinlgther brushes, the combination oftwopairsof parallel porting beams during the course of theirmovel mentandv so` mounted on paralleleccentrics that their top surfaces willcoincide with-the bottoms of tliegrooves of the supporting'beamswhen thethrows of the eccentrics are in their horizontal in vthe groovesofthe'ano'de supporting beams 'may be 'lifted `simultaneously from thegrooves,

carriedforward and re-deposited in the next ad- VVjacent grooves throughthe upper half revolution lpositions and Will remainsubstantiallyparallel to the supporting beams during revolution of the "eccentrics sothat a plurality of anodes supported 'of the eccentrics, means vforrevolvingthe eccenk trics, a lowering and raising device comprising apair of parallel rack members mounted for vertical movementin the spacebetweenthe pairs oflsupportingbeams in vertical alignment with thesupporting beams, said' rack members being provided at their upper endswith grooves corresponding'to and in horizontal alignment with thegrooves of the supporting beams, wherebycontinuity of spacing of groovesis provided between the pairs' of l supporting beams and whereby anodesin theirgroove-to-groove travel along the supporting beams will bedeposited successively ron the raising and lowering device with theirears in the 'grooves of the rack members, pinions engaging the teeth. ofsaid rack members, a reversible electric motor for operating thepinions, and means vfor controlling the operation of the motorautomatically so that at predetermined times during the revolutions ofthe eccentrics the rack members will be lowered and raised and anodessupported in the grooves Aof the rack members Iwill be lowered intocontact with the brushes ofthe washing means and will be returned againto a position of alignmentwith anodes supported in the grooves of theanode supporting beams." f 'f 9. In apparatus of the class describedincluding a stationary support comprising two pairs of fixed,substantially parallel and substantiallv horizontally disposedsupporting beams mounted in endz-to-end vertical and horizontalalignment with a space therebetween, the beams of each pair being ofsuch length and spaced apart sufficiently topermit a plurality of anodesto be supported thereon by'means of ears projecting from vthe side edgesof the anodes with the ears in contactwith the upper surfaces of thebeams and with `the bodies ofl the anodes extending downwardly betweenthe beams,l and washing means disposedadjacent the pairs of beams insubstantially vertical alignment with the space therebe-l tween, thecombination of'an elevator disposed in the space between the pairs ofbeams comprisinga pair of short beam lsections spaced apart and disposedin verticaland vhorizontal alignment with the pairs of anodesupportingbeams, means for advancing anodes along one pair of supporting beams tothe elevator to place the anode'ears in contact with the short beamsections and from'theelevator along the other pair of supporting beams,and means for operating the elevator to move the' short `beam sectionsdownwardly, wherebythe anodes thereon -aremoved into contact with thewashing means adjacent the .supporting beams, an'd'to return the shortbeam'sections to theirpositions of alignment with the supporting beams.l 10. In apparatus loilth'e class described including astationarysupport comprising two pairs of fandV oi' such length and spaced apartsuieiently' to permitaplurality of anodes to be "supported" thereon withtheir projecting-ears disposed in i '10 the grooves and with theirbodiesextending down`` iixed, substantially horizontally disposedsupporti H combination` of anode-carrying elevator `means ing beamsmounted in end-to-end vertical and horizontal alignment with a spacetherebetween, the ,beams of each pair being provided with grooves intheir upper surfaces for the reception of ears projecting beyond theside edges of anodes l `wardly between the beams; and `l`w`ashin`g"means`disposed adjacent the pairs of beamsin substan`` tially`verticalalignment with thezspace there? v contact with the washingmeans adjacentfthe supporting beams,'and to returnthe short beamsections to their positions of alignment with they` supporting beams.

between, the combination of anelevator disposed in the space between thepairs of beams compris-` inga pair of short beam sections providedwith;` 'grooves in their upper surfaces andispaced apart and disposed invertical and horizontal alignment f 4 A j a `pair "ofl stationaryanode-supporting with the pairs of anodesupportingbeamsynieans foradvancing anodes from groove to groove along one pair of supportingbeams to the elevator to place the anode ears in the grooves in theupper:

surfaces of the short beam sections and `from the elevatorfrom groove togroove along theother" pair of supporting beams, and means for oper;ating the elevator tomove the short `beam sections, whereby the anodesthereon are moved'into 11. In an anode washing machine comprisinga'stationary rack adapted to support a plurality of anodes,"said rack'comprising a pair ofsub` stantially parallelsupporting beams spacedapart sufficiently to receive the body of an anode theref` w between anddepending therebelow but beingsufr ciently close together to receiveears projecting from the sides ofthe anode and to support such j anodeby its ears, and washing means arranged below one end of said rack, thecombination of anode-carrying elevator means mounted adjafor removinganodes fromsaid elevatormeans;

cent the end of said rack over said washing means and comprisingshortbeam sections spaced correspondingly to the beams of the rack in amanner to receive the ears of an anode and support the anode thereby,means for advancing anodes along said rack and onto said elevator meansand rack being adapted to'support a` plurality ofg anodes by theearsthereof and each rack being provided with a plurality ofsubstantially equally spaced notches for receiving the ears of 1 theanodes vin a manner to maintain Vsubstantially equal spacing betweenadjacent anodes on the racks, and washingvmeans arranged below the byanistance substantianyfequfai touthevdistahee A tothe elevator means[and Vffrom the elevatorQ spaced adjacent ends of thefupport r r the"combination voile ianodecarrying elevator means mounted btWeeithe1spaced, adjacent ends of the supportlnglracks, saidelevatoricom j`prising short beam` sectio stationary rackadapteditollsupport"apluralityj r l stantially paralleli r supportingbeamsfspaced r the beams of the j rack inl "a Vmannen to recelvspacedadjacent ends ofthesupportingraels,th` j jacentg notches of the*anodesupportin acks` i between the notches formed `on `the racks,means"` for advancing anodes along one supporting?l rack means ralongthe other]supportingr"raclhand` means `for lowering and raising 4the `lvator"r means `withanode thereon 1intoand`fr` ing positionlin said`washingtrnean`s.`

13e In an an'ode {washingi machine" ".kcemprisingf mountedisubstantiallyin end-torend relati r r having their adjacent endsspaced` apart,eachqof said `racks comprising aspairllof substantiall allelfsupportingbearnswspalced apartsuflic r to receive thebodyof` an anodeftherebetween"n depending therebelowjbut being suftlfcifentlyi close together r toreceive ears projecting-fromthe` sides*` of;theanodeandtofsuppothlsuchanod Sb 'A ears, and l washing meansp)` arranged "be o spaced correspondingly tothe beams ofthe rackiin a rifiaririer;t` receive` the ears ofana deand `suppo` anode" thereby, means, if r "g r alongone supportingracktosaid "elevator" mea and frorngthe elevator `means"`alongfthetothesupporting rack, and` means frorigloweringqan raising .the .A elevator`means .with anode thereon j into and from washing t "n said washinmeansV j 14. Ind apparatus of the character L deseribed of anodes,` saidrack comprisingjha `pair ofjsub-"` apart suiiiciently to receivethe`bodyeof an anode `therebetween and depending" therebelowbut be ingsufficientlyclosetogetherf l jecting from thesides"ofthe`lanodean t supportsuch anode by its earsineans formativltncin` anodes along saidrock`,y,anelevator adaptedt receiverone anode at" a Jtirnejand comprisinshort A beam sections r spaced correspondingly it the ears of ananodeandfsupport"the anode'there r by,` said short bnarrrL actionsibeing inontedffin" l substantial'alignmentwithfthebeamsof ther-ack,` lmeans for lowering"` and raising said elevator with" anode thereon,`,and anodeiwashing means fposi tioned belowthe rack in `thepath oftravellofja anode supported onandirnoved by saidelevator. e

